At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead wholesale strategy, drive growth, and build strong partnerships with retailers.
- Company: Female-founded brand redefining intimates for a new generation of women.
- Benefits: Creative culture, impactful work, and opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic, entrepreneurial environment with a focus on collaboration and excellence.
- Why this job: Join us to empower women and reshape the intimates industry.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in apparel wholesale, strong network, and proven revenue growth.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.
Cou Cou is a female founded, purpose-driven, impact brand, redefining intimate-essentials for a new generation of women by bridging the gap between our lingerie and underwear drawer. Our mission is to reclaim the narrative of our intimates, celebrate our embodied female experience, everyday & reduce the environmental impact of our most disposed-of garments.
ROLE OVERVIEW: We are seeking an exceptional Wholesale Manager or Director to join our team and drive the next phase of our wholesale expansion. This role will hold full ownership of Cou Cou’s wholesale channel encompassing strategy, sales, operational excellence, and team leadership. The Wholesale Manager/Director will be responsible not only for driving growth with existing accounts but also for forging strong new partnerships with both major players and independent retailers. With full P&L responsibility, this person will balance commercial growth with disciplined account management to ensure healthy margins and premium brand positioning.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Strategic Channel Ownership
- Full ownership of Cou Cou’s wholesale channel, shaping the short- and long-term strategy.
- Full P&L responsibility for wholesale, ensuring profitable growth.
- Build the right balance of majors (for volume) and indie doors (for discovery and touch point for Cou Cou girls).
- Account Development & Growth
- Drive growth with existing wholesale partners, ensuring strong, long-term relationships.
- Establish new relationships with key doors globally, leveraging an extensive existing network.
- Implement effective seasonal sell-in strategies to achieve ambitious sales targets.
- Global & Regional Market Expertise
- Knowledge of regional market dynamics (e.g., EU, US, Middle East, APAC).
- Experience with international compliance and regulation.
- Ability to manage currency, tax, and duty implications across markets.
- Market entry strategy: assessing and prioritising new regions.
- Not just sell-through analysis but also market-level reporting.
- Market & Product Expertise
- Maintain an in-depth understanding of the apparel wholesale market, retail landscape, and buying cycles.
- Ensure Cou Cou’s wholesale assortment is aligned with market needs while protecting brand positioning.
- Demonstrate expertise in working with continuity products to optimize re-orders and drive consistent growth.
- Sales Analysis & Forecasting
- Own all wholesale forecasting, budgeting, and reporting.
- Monitor and analyse sell-through data to ensure targets are met and overstock/markdowns are avoided.
- Feed insights from sell-through back to product, merchandising, and DTC teams.
- Cross-Functional Impact
- Partner closely with the DTC team to ensure Cou Cou is available to try on in all key and growing regions.
- Work with marketing to create impactful wholesale activations that drive discovery, sell-through and enhance brand reputation.
- Organize and execute all seasonal showrooms, from strategy, taking orders, to final delivery.
- Operations & Team Leadership
- Lead and mentor a small team, including an allocator and operations assistant, ensuring accurate and timely order fulfillment.
- Work closely with operations and logistics to guarantee seamless delivery to accounts worldwide.
- Foster a culture of accountability, excellence, and growth within the wholesale function.
Qualifications & Experience
- 5+ years experience in apparel wholesale.
- Extensive network of key buyers and decision-makers across major retailers and influential boutiques.
- Proven track record of growing wholesale revenue while protecting premium brand positioning.
- Strong understanding of continuity product strategies and their role in consistent growth.
- Commercially astute with extensive experience in P&L ownership, forecasting, and budgeting.
- Highly analytical mindset with proven ability to monitor sell-through and optimize results.
- Exceptional relationship-building, negotiation, and communication skills.
- Experience leading and developing small teams.
- Hustle, agility, and resilience to thrive in a high-energy, entrepreneurial environment.
WHY JOIN US: At Cou Cou Intimates, we are committed to fostering a culture of creativity, collaboration, and continuous growth. As an integral member of our team, you will have the opportunity to make a significant impact and shape the future of our brand. Join us in redefining the intimates industry and empowering women to feel confident & comfortable. Everyday.
APPLICATION PROCESS: If you are a visionary leader with a passion for wholesale, please apply via careers@coucouintimates.com with subject: application // Wholesale Manager
Wholesale Manager in Cardiff employer: Cou Cou Intimates
At Cou Cou Intimates, we pride ourselves on being a purpose-driven, female-founded brand that champions creativity and collaboration in the intimate apparel industry. As a Wholesale Manager, you will not only lead our wholesale expansion but also enjoy a supportive work culture that prioritises employee growth and empowerment, allowing you to make a meaningful impact while working in a dynamic and entrepreneurial environment. Join us in redefining intimates for a new generation of women and experience the unique advantage of being part of a mission-driven team dedicated to sustainability and inclusivity.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Wholesale Manager in Cardiff
✨Get to Know the Industry Events
Dive into wholesale distribution trade shows and local industry meet-ups. These events are gold mines for networking and can even lead to job leads. Plus, getting face time with companies like Cou Cou Intimates can make you stand out!
✨Connect with Industry Professionals
Join online forums and communities specific to wholesale distribution. Places like LinkedIn groups or industry-specific Slack channels can put you in touch with insiders who know about the latest job openings at companies like Cou Cou Intimates before they even get posted.
✨Tailor Your Approach to Distribution Roles
When you apply for full-time roles, make sure your interactions highlight your understanding of supply chain management and logistics. Companies like Cou Cou Intimates want to see that you get the bigger picture and can contribute to their efficiency!
✨Follow Up Like a Pro
After you've sent in your application, don't be shy! Follow up with a brief message to express your enthusiasm for the role. This not only shows initiative but keeps your name fresh in the minds of recruiters at Cou Cou Intimates.
We think you need these skills to ace Wholesale Manager in Cardiff
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Distribution Know-How:For a role in wholesale distribution, it’s crucial to highlight any experience you have with supply chain management or logistics. Make sure to detail any relevant projects or roles on your CV that show you understand how products move from point A to point B efficiently.
Quantify Your Achievements:When crafting your CV, don’t just list tasks; instead, focus on achievements that can be quantified. For example, mention how you increased delivery efficiency by a percentage or managed a specific number of vendors. Numbers stand out and prove you can make a difference at Cou Cou Intimates.
Tailored Cover Letter Approach:In your cover letter, express why you're passionate about wholesale distribution and what excites you about the specific challenges at Cou Cou Intimates. Show us you’ve done some research on the company, and mention any values or initiatives they have that resonate with you.
Highlight Team Collaboration Skills:Since wholesale distribution often requires working closely with teams, emphasise your teamwork skills in your application. Include examples of how you’ve successfully collaborated with colleagues, suppliers, or stakeholders to improve operations or resolve issues.
How to prepare for a job interview at Cou Cou Intimates
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
In the wholesale distribution sector, being able to analyse market trends and inventory data is key. Be ready to discuss how you've tackled inventory management issues or implemented solutions that improved efficiency; this will show Cou Cou Intimates that you can handle the analytical side of the role.
✨Know Your Logistics Inside Out
Since logistics play a massive part in wholesale distribution, it's vital to familiarise yourself with the tools and software used in the industry, like ERP systems or supply chain management platforms. Mention any experience you have with these tools during the interview to impress Cou Cou Intimates.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that revolve around real-life situations in wholesale distribution, such as how you'd handle supply chain disruptions or manage relationships with suppliers. Practice articulating your thought process and decision-making strategies on these topics to demonstrate your problem-solving skills.
✨Highlight Your Long-Term Potential
As you're applying for a full-time role, Cou Cou Intimates will want to see your commitment to growing within the organisation. Be ready to discuss your career aspirations and how this role aligns with your goals, emphasising that you are in it for the long haul!
